Search - Lud Gluskin :: 1924-33

Euro-commercial with hot undertones.

Steven Phillips | Ada, OK United States | 10/26/2005

(5 out of 5 stars)

"Lud Gluskin (1898-1989) was a New York pit drummer who organized several hot dance orchestras in Europe during the 1920s-1930s. Gluskin soon became the most successful American orchestra leader operating in Europe and fronted bands composed of the best available international musicians. His musical activity was concentrated largely in France and Germany, although he frequently toured in Belgium, Holland, Sweden, etc. At one time, he was recording for as many as five record companies and recorded around 450 records during his European sojourn. The effects of the Great Depression and worsening political situation in Central Europe caused Gluskin to return to the United States in 1933.



Gluskin had a stellar musical career in the US after his return. He was nominated for the Academy Award for best original score for his work on the film, "The Man in the Iron Mask," although the prize went to "The Wizard of OZ." Gluskin composed scores and lead studio orchestras for numerous other motion pictures. He also lead orchestras for radio and television shows including: The Ed Wynn Show; The Burns and Allen Show; The Johnny Carson Show; and Gunsmoke.



The recordings on this double CD compilation are from Gluskin's European period and tend to be commercially oriented -- but they exhibit occasional jazz moments. The performances are often musically interesting, although Gluskin's scoring is sometimes a bit heavy on the ensemble side. This CD set is worth having if you like 1920s-1930s recordings of the hot dance/commercial genre. However, if your preferences lean predominantly towards jazz, you will not likely be satisfied with this set."

AN AMERICAN IN PARIS - AND BERLIN

Barry McCanna | Normandy, France | 10/29/2007

(5 out of 5 stars)

"Jazz Oracle is a label which specialises in the reissue of classic jazz, often of rare and little-known bands. This double album is on a par with their best, because whilst well-known on the Continent in the twenties, Lud Gluskin was virtually unheard of then outside Europe.



Starting in 1924, the first three sides feature Paul Gason & his Orchestra, in whose band Gluskin was the drummer. That is followed by a 1927 recording of The Playboys, an American group Gluskin hired for a Paris nightclub, and which became the nucleus of his own band when that job fell through.



Thereafter, the compilation has been discriminatingly selected from the 450 recordings the band recorded for different record companies as it moved around Europe between 1927 and 1933. These were the current hits from America, played in a hot dance style and featuring soloists who are every bit as deserving of attention as their US counterparts.



The recordings, mainly on Pathé, Homochord, and Polydor, are remarkable for their clarity, and have been lovingly remastered by the late acclaimed John R.T. Davies. The set is handsomely presented with a glossy 36-page illustrated booklet, containing a comprehensive history and photographs of the band, full discography, and colour plates of labels. It really is a collector's item."